Mayres-Savel: Hiking and Water Sports

Mayres-Savel is a destination for travelers looking to combine a stay on Lac de Monteynard with hiking or water sports. When planning your trip, it is worth considering whether you want to focus on the lake from the water, explore it on foot, or make it part of a scenic hike. Options range from courses and equipment rentals at the Base nautique de Savel Monteynard to walking trails featuring bridges, historic sites and viewpoints.

Water sports on Lac de Monteynard

Lac de Monteynard is a destination for water sports. Swimming is prohibited throughout the lake. If you are interested in activities on the water, be sure to take this clear restriction into account when planning your trip.

The Base nautique de Savel Monteynard offers sailing courses for adults and children, an introduction to foiling catamarans, and wingfoil courses. Sailboats, windsurf boards, dinghies, catamarans, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent. Group and individual lessons are available for all the water sports equipment on offer. You can therefore consider in advance whether a course or equipment rental would better suit your plans. Course times and seasonal availability may vary, so check which options are available during your stay before you travel.

Hikes with different starting points

The circular hike around Lac de Monteynard-Avignonet can be started in Mayres-Savel. It includes two Himalayan-style footbridges over the Drac and the Ebron. The lake can be crossed as part of the hike on a 30-minute guided boat trip. As the boat trip is seasonal, it is a good idea to take its operating times into account when planning the loop. This gives you both a specific hiking route and a boat segment as part of the described loop.

Other hikes also lead to footbridges, but start from different points. The hike to the Passerelle du Drac begins at the Savel beach car park and goes via La Chapelle, Le Pont and La Tourbe to the bridge. Another hike starts in Les Mets in Mayres-Savel and leads to the largest Himalayan-style footbridge on Lac de Monteynard. The starting points and places along the way listed here help you distinguish between the different route descriptions.

Panoramas, history and orientation

The summit of Sénépy reaches 1,769 metres. The ascent offers views of the Matheysin Plateau, the Drac gorges, Lac de Monteynard and the Vercors range. The mountain thus offers a distinct focus for a hike: the landscape and the viewpoints listed here take centre stage, rather than a water sports activity.

Savel’s history can also be included in your travel plans. The historic walking trail “Savel, l'histoire en marche” passes by Château de Savel. It adds a route with a historical connection to the choice of hikes offering views of the lake and mountains.

The building “Le Môle de Savel” in Mayres-Savel provides information and explanations about the Drac Valley, the Monteynard-Avignonet dam and hydropower. It is located near the entrance to the Savel beach car park and the Mira landing. The topics covered there therefore extend beyond activities on the lake to include the valley, the dam and hydropower.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.